Chetro Ketl — Attraction in Crownpoint

During my visit to Chetro Ketl in Chaco Canyon, I was struck by the beauty of this particular ruin. The artistry of its construction is simply breathtaking, a testament to the ingenuity and labor of the ones who constructed this marvel. The great northern wall, in particular, struck me with its precise alignment directly east and west, mirroring the grand design seen at Pueblo Bonito (some 700 meters to the west). It’s an architectural marvel that speaks volumes about their understanding of the cosmos and their meticulous planning, not to mention the great engineering knowledge it took to make such an a wall. The sheer size of the kivas and the intricate stonework throughout the complex left a lasting impression, highlighting the spiritual and communal importance of this great house. Exploring Chetro Ketl was a humbling journey through time, allowing me to witness firsthand the enduring legacy of a sophisticated culture.

Chetro Ketl is one of the largest and most significant great houses in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, built by the Ancestral Puebloans. Construction began around 990 CE, with major building phases occurring between 1030 and 1075 CE. The site continued to be occupied and modified until the mid-12th century. It is believed to have served as a major ceremonial and administrative center, similar in function to other great houses in the canyon. The structure boasts an impressive number of rooms, kivas, and plazas, indicating a large population and a complex social structure. Its architectural sophistication, including multi-story construction and finely crafted masonry, points to a highly organized society with advanced engineering skills. Like many other Chacoan sites, Chetro Ketl eventually saw a decline in its population leading to its eventual abandonment by the late 12th or early...

I wrote a lengthy review of Chertro Ketl back in Oct 2017 when I visited, but GMaps erased it recently, but somehow kept my photos, then had the nerve to ask me to review it again. I can't remember a lot of the details about the site now. Site is slightly older than Pueblo Bonita. It was built adjacent to an older, smaller site. There is a very large, lovely Kiva here. Some of the windows on buildings were bricked up for reasons unknown at some point late in its flourishing period (12th century AD). Alignment of northern wall coincides with 18 year lunar maximum progression cycle (possibly the only known ancient culture to have built for this purpose), but you can't see this because sites are closed at night. Phooey! Site is located about a quarter mile from parking area, down an easy dirt path but I wouldn't recommend it for the mobility impaired. That's the best I can recall. My original review was much better. Poo...

The entire Chaco Canyo complex is one of the finest archeaological sites in north America. You could spend several days here exploring Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, and other related great houses and kivas. The architecture is one of my interests since i enjoy building dry-stack rock walls and found the Chacoan techniques...